Foldable portable chiropractor&#39;s table



Dec. 25, 1951 A RBRANTQ I 2,579,783

FOL-DABLE PORTABLE CHIRGPRACTOR'S TABLE Filed Maro'h- 6', 1951 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

44.1 BI-ZHNTO ATTORNEY.

Dec. 25, 1951 A, F, BRANTO 2,579,783

FOLDABLE PORTABLE CHIROPRACTORS TABLE Filed March 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :5 3; INVENTORH ,1 k w "/WKM AFBR/mTa v Dec. 25, 1951 A. F. BRANTO FOLDABLE PORTABLE CHIROPRACTORS TABLE INVENTOR. By H- Elan/W0 fl'rToRNEY.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 6, 1951 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 FOLDABLE PORTABLE CHIROPRACTORS TABLE Andrew F. Branto, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 6, 1951, Serial No. 214,035

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable foldable chiropractors table suitable for a chiropractor to 11158 both in his office and when making house cal s.

More specifically speaking, this invention reiates to a chiropractors table of the above stated kind which can be folded up into a sufficiently light, compact structure to be manually carried about like a suit case, and which can be unfolded at the place of use and there erected as a structure which will, in a satisfactory safe manner, support the body of the patient while the chiropractor is making the desired vertebral adjustments.

Althou h it is not broadly new to construct a chiropractors tableof the above stated kind, yet there remains ample room for improving such tables, for among other defects, as hitherto made they have not been so constructed and equipped as to be usable in nearly so advantageous and satisfactory a manner as tables of the more expensive, non-portable type.

Common defects in chiropractors portable tables have been positioning the head rest at too high a level in relation to the adjacent part of the table, so that the patient lying on the table has been subjected to strain throughout the cervical and occipital regions; and failure to provide the table with a suitable clearance to accommodate the thyroid cartilage of a patient in a prone position.

Also there remains in such tables, considerable roomfor improving the means for supporting the thoracic and abdominal portions of the body of a patient when lying in a prone position upon the table, in such a manner that a more specific,

eifective vertebral adjustment may be performed.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved arrangement of spring supported table top members which will underlie the thorax and abdomen of a which illustrate a preferred, reduced to practice embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a top plan view of the entire table shown in its unfolded, erected position, ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table structure shown in Fig. 1, a patient being shown lying thereupon in the prone position. In order to disclose structure that would otherwise be concealed and to contract the view, parts oi"; certain legs are broken away. A broken line indicates a depressed position of the abdominal support.

Fig. 2a is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional detail taken approximately on the plane indicated by line 2a-2a on Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section looking up from angular line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Parts are broken away to economize space.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on angular line 4-4 of Fig. 3, parts being broken away to contract the view, and broken lines indicating depressed positions of some parts. The front, headward part of a patient lying prone on the table is shown in this view.

Fig. 4a is a perspective view of the wedge shaped member shown in the adjacent portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5--5 of Fig. 4, the legs being fragmentarily shown.

Figs. 6 and '7 are enlarged fragmentary, sectional details of leg bracing structures, the leg associated therewith being shown in the former View in the fully extended position, and. in the latter view partly inswung. In Fig. 7 the screw bolt which passes through the slotted link, and its nut are shown in a detached, adjacent relation to the parts with which they co-operate.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view looking at the open side of the main casing section and illustrating how the remaining portion of the table is fitted thereinto in the operation of placing the table in its folded up condition shown in Fig. 10. Leg structures and some other parts are omitted to simplify the view.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary section taken on the plane indicated by line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig 10 is a perspective view of the folded up table looking at that side of the headrest, thoracic, and abdominal supports which is uppermost when the table is adjusted for use.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary section on the plane indicated by line IIII on Fig. 10.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and at first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, main parts of the table shown are the long table top section I5, which supports the leg and hip 'the hinge pin 47.

plates 28.

plates is preferably widened, as well shown in portions of the patients body it, said section 15 being shaped as an elongated, rectangular box with an open side facing downwardly; the abdominal support ll, detachably connected at its rear end to the front end of said section 15 by a hinge structure it; the thorax support It, deeply notched at 9a to accommodate the thyroid cartilage and linked to said abdominal support by a pair of underlying, resilient plates 20 (see Figs. 3 and 4); the pair of laterally adjustable twin head rest members i the upper surfaces of which are at a somewhat lower level than the upper surface of the thorax support 59, to which support they are hinged; and vari ous leg structures and linkage which will be described later.

The front end portion of erected table structure is supported by a pair of front legs 25, at its side of the table each of said legs being foldably fastened to a front corner portion of the thorax support I9 by means of a clip 26 of an inverted U shape, small, nut carrying bolts 2? fastening the legs to the clips. Not far from their lower ends said legs 25 are rigidly linked together by a round crossbar 28. Said crossbar 23 carries at its midlength a pair of upwardly projecting fingers 29, a bridge pin 3%) connecting the upper end portions of said fingers.

An angle iron rail 3! underlies transversely the front end portion of the pair of headrests 2!, said rail having through it near each end a longitudinal slot 32 which slidably receives a threaded pin 33 fixed to .and projecting down wardly from the overlying head rest 2!. Said 'pin 33 carries a winged clamping nut 3 the pair of pins and nuts thus provided being part of the arrangement which supports the two head rest members 2! in such a manner that they may be horizontally adjusted to vary the space between them, and may be releasably secured in the selected adjusted position.

With the aforesaid angle iron rail 3.4 cooperates an inclined head rest bar 36. Said bar has a clip 3! swingably pinned to its upper end, said clip being apertured to receive a pin 33 which secures said bar to the midlength part of the angle iron 3|. The lower end of said bar 36 is flattened and is provided along its lower edge with a series of spaced apartnotches In erecting the table the operator will apply the proper notch as to theaforesaid crossbar 28 to support the front end of the pair. of headrests 2% at the desired height,

To the rear part of the lower face of each headrest member 2! is secured a front hinge 55 with which co-operates a rear hinge wing it attached to the front partof the lower face of :the adjacent side portion of the aforesaid thorax support IS. The hinge curls of each of these hinge wings are considerably spaced apart, as shown, so that a considerable shifting of each hinge plate. or wing 35 is possible along This shiftable feature render possible the already mentioned adjusting of the headrest members 2! toward and from each other. y

A means for yieldingly linking the rear end portion of thethorax support it to the front end been mentioned as comprising a pair of resilient Each end portion of each of these Fig. 3, to receive a set of front screwbolts 5E} and of rear screw bolts 5!, by whichsaid plates are securely anchored to the overlying structures portion of the abdominal support it has already in flatwise engagement with them. A considerable portion of the length of each plate 23 is in a detached relation to the rear end portion of the thorax support IQ, so as to make it easier to depress the front part of the abdominal sup ort [1.

The already mentioned hinge structure t, whereby the abdominal support it is connected to the rear section it of the table top comprises a front set of four hinge wings shown secured by screw bolts 55 to the lower face of the end portion of said abdominal support. These hinge wings are all pivoted upon a removable hinge pin 57; which extends across substantially the entire width of said abdominal support. The hinge structure is is completed by providing the pair of elongated, resilient hinge wings each of which, in a flatwise manner, underlies the rear table top section 55 and is attached thereto by two pairs of screw bolts 59. Said bolts are located near the rear ends of said wings, so that a considerable space intervenes between them and the pivot pin 5'! around which the front end portions of the wings are curled. Because of this arrangement, when a downward thrust is applied to the lumbar region of a patient on the table the rear part of the abdominal support will yield, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 4, thus adding to the comfort and safety of the patient. 7

The medial pair of table top supporting legs is swingably connected to interior front corner portions of the box-like rear section 15 of the table, which section includes the downwardly directed front end wall 6!, twin side walls t2 and the rear end wall 63, the attaching means 5 for these legs being similar to the already desc'ibed attaching means for the front legs 25'. Also a crossbar 55 connects the lower portions of legs 50, said'crossbar at its midlength carrying a finger and bridge structure 61' like the already described structure shown in Fig, 20:. With the'two bridge pins thus provided co-operates a link bar 68, which is laterally notched at each end with notches which fit over the two bridge pins and thus rigidly link together the horizontal crossbars 28 and 6t and through them assist in looking the medial and front pairs of table legs in their upstanding position. However, additional locking means is provided for said two pairs of legs, this locking means, illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, being of the same construction for each of the four legs of said two pairs. Each leg 25 (or 60) carries, downwardly spaced from its upper end, an inwardly projecting pin ill to which is pivoted one end of a lower strap metal link ll, said link at its opposite end being pivoted at 12 to the midlength portion of an upper co-operating strap metal link it. In the midlength portion of said lower link ii is alongitudinal slot M. The upper link l3 has a deep notch l5 cut longitudinally into its lower end portion. With this notch and slot 4t co-operate a bolt'lfi provided with a winged.

clamping nut 11. When said notch iii is alined with the slot 7 4 said bolt and nut are utilized to clamp the linkage in the bracing position shown in Fig; 6. The slot M is sufficiently long to allow the bolt it to be moved out of *he way of the inswung end of the link 5 so that the bolt not have to be removed at anytime. A'stop lug lta is carried by link it. c

The pairs of legs 25 and 5B are both prevented from swinging either forwardly or 'backwardly when the linkage is adjusted to the extended position shown in Fig. 6.

The leg structure is completed by providing a rear pair of legs 73 which when extended are held against swinging movement by a linkage 19 like that shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

When the table is in its erected position with a patient lying thereon, it is sometimes desirable to lock the rear end portion of the abdominal support i1 against material depression from upper position thereof shown in full lines in Fig. 4. For this purpose, an adjustable locking member 80 is swingably mounted upon a pair of eyebolts 8| which project inwardly from the front end wall SI of the rear table top section 15. Each end portion of said member 80 is provided with a short horizontal run 82 which is positioned to be crowded under the front end portion of the already mentioned hinge wing 58 at its side of the table, so as to prevent depression of the hinge wings 58 when said member 80 is in the upswung position. Said end wall 6! is provided with apertures 61a through which said elongated hinge wings 58 extend and beyond which they project somewhat.

A wedge shaped member 85 (see Fig. 4a), is used to give the desired contour and stability to the thorax support l9, being embedded, with its thick end directed forwardly, in a cushioning material 86 contained in a covering 81. Said member 85 has a deep vertical notch 88 in the middle of its front end which conforms to the already mentioned notch 19a in the thorax support I9. The front part of the aforesaid covering 87 extends into said notch and closely overlies the front end portions of the wedge at each side thereof.

The twin headrest members 2! each contain an internal wooden frame 89, the abdominal section I! of the table is shown with an internal, composite wooden structure 96, and the rear section !5 with an internal wooden member 9|, these, preferably wooden, parts affording basal mounting means for the various attachments which have been described. In the rear sections l5 and H the padding is designated 92 and the coverings 93.

Preparatory to folding up the table, after removing already mentioned hinge pin 51 the rear section [5 of the table top is detached from the remaining sections thereof. The length of said rear section is slightly greater than the combined lengths of said remaining sections, making it possible, along with the adequate width of said section l5, to house the sections I1, I 9 and 2| therein, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10, it being understood that the six legs of the table have first been inswung to their folded up positions. An L-shaped locking member 95 has its shorter or basal limb 96 secured to the lower face of one side portion of the rear part of the table section II, as shown in Figs. 3 and 11. The longer limb of said member 95 has through it an aperture which is registrable with a bore 91 through that side wall 62 to which is attached a handle 98 to be used in carrying the folded up table. Said bore 9! is located close to the open side of the box-like rear section 62, thus being positioned to receive a manually turnable locking screw 99 which co-operates with a threaded bore through a face plate I00 attached to the wall 52 as shown in Fig. 11.

In completing the folding up of the table, in order to bring the eyebolts H0 (see Fig. 8) into register with holding pins Ill carried by the end walls of the rear table section I5, the three front table top sections are buckled in relation to each other, thus somewhat shortening their combined lengths so the operator can bring said pins and the eyes of the bolts into register. Then he will straighten out the buckled sections and complete the folding up operation. Conversely, said three table top sections are buckled outwardly preparatory to their removal.

It is desirable that the box-like structure of the rearmost section [5 taper a little toward its front end, making the table top structure widest at its rear end.

In the foregoing description, sufllcient has been said about the operation to enable the chiropractor advantageously to erect, fold up and use the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a table structure of the kind described, a rear table top section positioned to support the legs and hips of a patient lying thereon, a pair of elongated, normally horizontal resilient members forming hinge wings and having rear end portions underlying said rear table top section and secured thereto and front end portions projecting forwardly of said rear table top section, an abdominal supporting section in advance of said rear section, said abdominal supporting section having its rear end portion hinged to said front end portions of said resilient members to swing in a vertical plane, and additional table top structure located forwardly of said abdominal supporting section to support the portions of a patients body headward of his abdomen.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, and a locking member carried by said rear table top section and adjustable to and from an underlying relation to the front end portions of said resilient members releasably to lock them against depression.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, and said looking member consisting of a generally U-shaped rod having its midlength portion swingably connected with said rear table top section in a downwardly spaced relation to said resilient members and end portions upswingable to an underlying locking relation to the front end portions of said resilient members.

4. In a table of the kind described, a thorax supporting table top section having a front edge with a spacious notch therein to afford a clearance for the thyroid cartilage of a patient lying in a prone position upon said table, and a headrest table top member in an adjacent forward relation to said thorax supporting section.

5. The subject matter of claim 4, and said thorax supporting section comprising a wedge shaped member and a cushioning material in which said member is embedded, said. member having across its thicker end a vertical notch which contributes to the formation of the aforesaid clearance for the thyroid cartilage of the patient, and an outside covering for said cushioning material, a portion of said covering closely overlying said notch in said member.

6. In a foldable table of the kind described, a box-like rear table top section having an open side, a plurality of additional connected table top sections, foldable legs carried by said rear table top section and adjustable to support it in a con nected, rearward relation to said additional sections to form a complete erected table, foldable legs carried by said additional sections, and a hinge structure which, when the table is erected connects said rear section with the section next 7 infront, said hinge structure comprising a removable hinge pin which, when removed detaches said rear section from the section next in front thereof, said additional sections, when their legs are folded, being collectively nestable within the open side portion of said rear table top section.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, and a locking member secured to one of said additional sections and positioned adjacent to a side wall portion of said box-like rear table top section in the aforesaid nested relation, said locking member having through it an aperture, and a manually operable locking screw carried by said side wall of said rear table top section and adjustable to and from a locking relation to said aperture.

8. The structure set forthin claim 6, and internally projecting pin carried by opposite end walls of said box-like section, and eyebolts to telescope over said pins carried by each end portion of said table top sections collectively considered, said additional sections being fiexibly joined to each other, it being necessary to buckle them at their joints to position said eyebolts for telescoping over said internally projecting pins.

9. In a table structure of the kind described, a

leg supported rear table top section, an abdominal supporting table top section immediately in front said two sections and including a horizontal hinge pin and a pair of elongated resilient hinge wings attached by their outer end portions to the under side of said rear section in a considerably spaced relation to its front end so that the inner end portions of said wings may be sprung downwardly out of contact with said rear section, a leg supported table top section immediately in advance of said abdominal supporting section, and resilient means connecting the last recited two sections to each other, so that said abdominal supporting section is bodily depressible in relation to both of said sections with which it is connected.

10. In a portable foldable table of the kind described, a plurality of table top sections alined lengthwise of the table and in a connected relation to each other, a headrest having a rear end hinged to the foremost of said plurality of sections so that said headrest is swingable in a vertical plane, a pair of front legs in a supporting relation to the foremost of said plurality of said table top sections, said legs being spacedapart transversely of the table, a first crossbar struc ture linking the lower portions of the legs of said pair to each other, a second table leg and crossbar structure located rearwardly of the aforesaid pair of legs and its crossbar, a link bar connecting the midlength portions of the two of said rear section, a hinge structure connecting crossbars with each other, and an inclined head rest bar having an upper end portion swingably connected with the front end portion of said headrest, said headrest bar having in it a series of downwardly opening notches in a co-operative re lation to said first crossbar structure and usable to support said headrest at various inclinations.

11; In a portable table of the kind described, a plurality of table top sections alined lengthwise of the table and in a connected relation to each other, a headrest having a rear end hinged to the foremost of said plurality of sections so that said headrest is swingable in a vertical plane, a pair of front legs in a supporting relation to the foremost of said plurality of table top sections, said legs being spaced apart transversely of the table, a crossbar structure connecting the legs of said pair to each other, and an inclined headrest bar having an upper end portion swingably connected with the front end portion of said headrest, said headrest bar having in it a series of downwardly opening notches in a co-operative relation to said crossbar structure and usable to support said headrest at various inclinations.

12. The subject matter of claim 11, and said crossbar structure comprising a horizontal bar and a pair of fingers upstanding therefrom longitudinally spaced apart therealong, and a bridge pin connecting said fingers, the notches of said headrest bar being in a co-operative relation to said bridge pin.

13. In a chiropractors table, a two-part headrest member, and a hinge connecting each part of said headrest member with an adjacent rearward part of the table, said hinge including a horizontal hinge pin and a pair of hinge wings pivoted to said pin and shiftable therealong in relation to each other, so as to vary horizontally the spacing of the two parts of said headrest member from each other.

- ANDREW F. BRANTO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,533,787 Gebhart Dec. 12, 

